Wall construction



April 27, 1937. F. M VENZlE 2,078,620

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l ff f L i E ff ff I# Z6 w ATToNEY pll 27, 1937. frl M, VENZlE 2,078,620

WALL CONSTRUCTION FiledAAug. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented pr. 27, 1937 UNITED srs'rss FATENT OFFICE WALL CONSTRUCTION Application AugustV 14,

5 Claims.

My invention relates to building construction and more particularly to novel paneled, interior, partition walls.

The invention comprises a wall having an all metal surface in which the studding is resiliently supported with respect to the ceiling and fiocr and in which the surfacing units may be erected without the use of any tools except a hammer, combined with finishing strips which cover the means used for holding the surfacing units in position and give the wall a paneled effect.

An object of my invention is to provide a partition wall which can be readily and expeditiously erected and from which is eliminated the use of all clips which are attachable, or movable, behind the wall surface.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wall comprising rigid surfacing units which units may have a final decorative coating applied thereto prior to their erection.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wall constructed of a multiplicity of metal faced panels which when erected will give the effect of a room paneled with wood.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel unit capable of use as studding which is adapted to support surfacing units against movement toward the interior of the wall and which comprises means for supporting the clips to prevent the movement of the units outwardly from the plane of the wall.

A further object of my invention is tc provide a unit Which may be used not only as studdng and to support vertical finishing strips but which may also be positioned horizontally and held horizontal finishing strips in position.

Yet anotherobject of my invention is to provide a wall construction in which the studding is resiliently supported with respect to vertical movement thereof while fixed against movement out of a vertical plane.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a wall as described which is fire-resistant in character.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specifi-cation, claims, and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a wall embodying my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively, Fig. l;

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5 5, Fig. 6;

Fig. 6' is a vertical section taken on the line 6S, Fig. 1;

1933, Serial No. 684,965

Fig. '7 is a detail View on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Referring now particularly to Figs. l and 6, my wall is held in position by properly aligned nailing strips I and II attached to a ceiling i2 and floor I3 respectively, the nailing strips being of a width substantially equal to that of the studding I4 hereinafter referred to.

To the nailing strips I and l I in vertical alignment and at suitably spaced intervals are connected as by nails I5 oppositely facing pairs of guideways I'I having channel shaped lower ends I'Ia the flanges of which extend inwardly with respect to the wall. The upper ends I'b of the guideway I'l are flat and adapted to lie in contact with the outer faces of the nailing strips id and II.

The lower ends Ila of each pair of guideways I'l carry an expansion member I8 composed of two shells I8a each having inwardly facing flanges I8b and outwardly facing flanges ic. The outwardly facing flanges I8c are positioned at the ends only of the expansion members, and the upper and lower anges are adapted to t over the nailing strip I0 and the end of the studding I4 respectively. The upper and lower in Wardly facing flanges |817 formed on the sides of the Webs Id, are adapted to support and maintain in position expansion springs I8e in conjunction with flanges I8f on the webs I8d. The upper and lower webs Id on their outer faces bear against the nailing strips and ends of the studding I4 respectively. It is to be understood that, as shown in Fig. 6, each of the studs I4 is supported at opposite ends by an expansion member i8 which in turn is held in assembled position relative to the studding and to the nailing strips by the guideways Il within which the expansion member may move to mpart resilience in a vertical plane to the studding.

Each of the studs I4 is preferably a channel shaped member formed of sheet metal from the web Ida of which, at suitably spaced intervals, is stamped out pairs of oppositely directed fingers, one pair I4`c facing and lying parallel to the anges I4f of the stud and the other pair lib lying in the same plane as the first pair but facing in an opposite direction. The fingers preferably are spaced from the flanges a distance equal to the thickness of the surfacing units 20.

Each flange I 4f of the studs I4 has stamped therefrom outwardly, with respect to the wall, directed hooks I4h located at suitably spaced intervals, certain of which are adapted to receive clips 2i. Each of the clips 2| is in the shape of a broadened and attened U with outwardly eX- tending flanges 2id on the open end. The base 2lb of the clip seats within the hook Mh and each of the flanged ends Ela bears against the faces of adjacent surfacing units 20 to hold them in place against the ngers Mb and |40.

The surfacing units 26 may be of any suitable material but I prefer that a unit having a metal shell be used in which is a layer of cementitious, reproof material such as a composition of gypsum and asbestos or the like. By the use of such a metal surfaced unit I obtain a wall which may be decorated in any suitable style prior to its erection and the completely finished unit erected in place.

In erecting the wall, after the studding has been put into position, including horizontal studs I4 laid upon the nailing strip i l the lower course of panels is erected and clipped in position to the studding. Over the upper edges of these panels, between the studding, is fitted pieces of studding which are not attached to a support but the web of which rests upon the upper edges of the panels. Next a second course of panels is erected and clipped in position to the studding and similar clips are then connected tothe horizontal piece of the studding material to maintain the top of one course and the bottom of the adjacent course in a common plane, (see Fig. 3).

After all of the panels along one stud have been erected, vertical finishing strips 26 are positioned. Each of these strips is of channel shape and carries on the face of the web between the flanges straps 26a in the shape of a shortened U, which straps are spaced from the web of the strip a distance not greater than the depth of the flanges thereon. The straps 26a are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the distance between several of the hooks I 4h., and the straps are adapted to fit over the hooks not occupied by the clips 2l and thereby maintain the strip 26 in position over the space between the edges of the surfacing units and over the clips 2| which hold the vertical edges in position.

The horizontal edges of the surfacing units and the clips which hold them in position are covered by a finishing strip 21 which in outward appearance is similar to the strip 26 but upon which the fianges are bent slightly inwardly (Figs. 2 and 3). The flanged edges engage a clip 25 having semicircular ends 25m but which is otherwise similar to the clips 2| and these hold the horizontal finishing strip 21 under a slight spring tension and maintain it in position. It is understood that the horizontal studs I4 are also positioned over the uppermost of the panels 20 and beneath the lowermost of these panels, the studs will be spaced from the ceiling and floor by the width of the nailing strips I0 and H respectively. Such spacing will permit the positioning of the nishing strips 21 as cornice and base strips in the same manner as they are positioned intermediate the ceiling and floor. Should it be found that the finish of the strips 21 is not esthetically desirable when they are used as either cornice or base strips other designs may be provided by simply welding a desired shape to the strip 21 prior to the time that it is erected.

It will be obvious from a consideration of the above that a space will be left between the surfacing units forming the walls of adjacent rooms, which space may be lled with any material for the desired purposeeither soundproofing or fireproofing. A wall as above described may be readily erected with a hammer and level as the only tools and if the units are provided with the desired finish prior to erection it need only take a few hours, instead of several days, to erect partition walls of such size as are usually vfound in the modern office building and such walls, when erected may have a luxurious effect and individual finish.

Various modifications may be made in the above described embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a partition Wall, vertically spaced fixed supports; guideways attached to each of said supports; studding; and means for resiliently mounting said studding within said guideways, said guideways preventing movement of said studding other than vertically.

2. In a partition wall vertically spaced fixed supports; guideways attached to each of said supports; studding; and means for resiliently mounting said studding for vertical movement within said guideways, said guideways preventing movement of said studding other than vertically.

3. A building construction unit comprising a channel member; hooks on the outer face of one flange of said channel member; and fingers, oppositely projecting in pairs, on the web of said channel shaped member.

4. In an interior partition wall, studding; a multiplicity of surfacing units; a plurality of fingers on said studding extending in a plane parallel to the plane of the surface of the wall and spaced from said plane a distance equal to the thickness of a surfacing unit; clips; finishing strips and fingers on said studding, certain of said fingers holding said clips in contact with the outer face of said surfacing units and pressing the inner face thereof against said first mentioned fingers, and other of said fingers holding said finishing strips in place over said clips.

5. A wall construction comprising supports; studding resiliently mounted with respect to said supports; surfacing units; means formed integrally with said studding to prevent the movement in one direction of positioned units out of a vertical plane; clips; means on said studding cooperating with said clips to prevent the movement in another direction of said units out of a vertical plane; means for positioning the top and bottom of adjacent units. with respect to each other; and means for covering said last named means and said clips, said last named means defining panels on said wall.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE. 

